Seal



Patented Aug. 19, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SEAL Cassianus Paoly,Belle Vernon, Pa.

Application October 5, 1939, Serial No. 298,130

1 Claim.

My invention relates to improvements in seals for use more particularlyon envelopes and the like.

The invention is designed with the particular purpose in view ofproviding a lock tight seal which may be inexpensively applied toenvelopes, files, packages, cartons and boxes for quickly and securelysealing the same without resorting to adhesive, and which is soconstructed and arranged that tampering therewith may be easilydetected. I

To the accomplishment of the above, and subordinate objects presentlyappearing, a preferred embodiment of my invention, and one modificationthereof, have been illustrated in the accompanying drawing, set forth indetail in the succeeding description, and defined in the claim appendedthereto.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in rear elevation of an envelope embodying thepreferred form of my invention,

Figure 2 is a similar fragmentary View of the closure flap and lockingtab,

Figure 3 is a View in transverse section taken on the line 3--3 ofFigure 1 and drawn to an enlarged scale,

Figure 4 is a View in vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure1, and

Figure 5 is a view in plan of a modification of the invention.

Referring to the drawing by numerals, in the preferred embodimentthereof, illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, my invention has been shown asapplied to the usual envelope I having the body part 2 and a closureflap 3.

The seal of my invention, as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, comprises atongue-like locking tab 4 and a complemental locking sleeve 5'. The tab4 has the form of a substantially rectangular elongated strip of anysuitable semi-flexible material such as Celluloid, Cellophane, or thelike, having a straight edge attaching portion 9 for attachment to theflap 3 as by a rivet I, and a locking portion 8 adapted to projectbeyond the free edge of the flap 3 and provided with toothed, orserrated side edges 9 extending to the free end of the strip. The teeth,or serrations, on the side edges 9 incline from the free end I9 of saidstrip.

Te sleeve is of flat, generally rectangular form, and of the samematerial as the tab 4 and is adapted to be attached to the body portion2 of theenvelope l with one open end facing the top edge of the envelopeand in a position for insertion of the locking portion 8 of the tab 4therein. Preferably for attaching the sleeve 5,

lugs l l are provided at the corners thereof to receive rivets I2. Alongthe sides thereof the sleeve 5 is provided with internal teeth, orserrations, l3 fitting into the interstices between the teeth of theside edges 9 of the tab 4 so that said teeth t3 and side edges 9interlock and prevent withdrawal of the portion 9 from said sleeve. Aswill be understood, the teeth [3 and side edges 9 are arranged toprovide a certain amount of clearance between the same whereby, andbecause of the semifiexibility of both the side edges 9 may wipe pastsaid teeth I3 under insertion of the locking portion 8 in the sleeve 5,and said teeth and edges react with a snap action into interlockingengagement. Preferably the sleeve 5 is constructed with front and rearportions l4, IS with spacing strips l6 interposed therebetween. In themodification of the invention, shown in Figure 5, a series of lockingtabs ll, similar to tabs 4 are provided in a strip assembly havingtear-oli or severing lines l8 thereon between said tabs. In this form ofthe invention the tabs I! are designed to be numbered, lettered, orotherwise distinctively identified, for selective use in conjunctionwith the sleeve 5 so that in the event of tampering with the seal andattempted substitution of another tab, the tampering may be readilydetected. The tabs I! are designed more particularly for use in sealingsuch articles as meters before and after inspection.

The foregoing will, it is believed, suffice to impart a clearunderstanding of my invention without further explanation.

Manifestly, the invention as described, is susceptible of furthermodification than as disclosed and without departing from the inventiveconcept, and right is herein reserved to such other modifications asfall within the scope of the subjoined claim.

What I claim is:

A seal for attachment to an envelope having a body part and a closureflap comprising a striplike male member, having an apertured end forriveting to said flap and a locking end for projection from said flapprovided with saw toothed side edges, and a sleeve-like female memberfor attachment to said body part and insertion of the locking end of themale member thereinto, said female member having internal saw toothedsides for interlocking with the toothed side edges of said locking end,said toothed side edges and the teeth of said sides being semi-flexiblefor snap action interlocking under insertion of said locking part intothe female part, the teeth of said edges and sides inclining oppositelyto prevent retraction of the locking part.

CASSIANUS PAOLY.

